We start a series of guides from our school to help you to get acquainted with the city and Russian culture in your free time after the classes.
ProBa School is located on Rubinstein street which is one of the central streets connecting Nevsky Prospect with the famous Five corners area. If you’re interested in the history of this street read this blog post.
We suggest you to start with a walk down the street to see the newest monument which appeared here 3 years ago. This is the monument to the Soviet dissident writer Sergei Dovlatov (Rubinstein str. 23). It’s standing right next to the building where he used to live. Go further and you’ll find yourself in a magic place – Five Corners area, an unofficial name of this small “square” where 5 streets meet. In front of the grey building with the tower there are special footsteps marked on the ground for you to stand there and enjoy the energy of the city.
Erofeeva Elena. Lomonosova bridge
Then follow Lomonosova street which will lead to Fontanka river, the boarder of the city in 1720s. Cross Lomonosova bridge which was built in 1787. It’s one of the two remaining bridges over Fontanka with four pavilions where the moving mechanisms were kept allowing to open the bridge. Follow the Rossi street where the massive Alexandrinsky Theater is seen in the end. Go around to admire this beautiful classicist building on Ostrovsky Square. Make sure to visit it someday as it is one of the famous historical theaters in St. Petersburg alongside with Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky theaters.
Now you can see Nevsky prospect in front of you. Walk through the Catherine garden and take a look at the monument of Catherine the Great with her supporters. Turn left and walk a littile bit further to Gostiny Dvor, the vast department store of the 18th century. Then we suggest you to take a scenic route only by the price of the tramway/bus ticket. Take bus № 49 or tramway № 3 on the corner of Nevsky and Sadovaya towards Neva River. You will pass by Mikhailovsky garden, Michael’s castle, Summer Gardens, Mars field and Neva river – don’t get off until you cross Neva through Troitsky bridge to see the scenic landscape of the embankments! If you’d like to feel more comfortable communicating with people in the stores, transport and cafes, take a few Russian classes to speed up your progress.
What to do next after you get of the tram on the other side – wait till the next post from ProBa School or let us know your favorite routes!
